Spin magic, last-over drama and clinical chases headline Day 2
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 delivered another thrilling chapter on Day 2, with Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand all registering important victories across three venues. From spin mastery in Sri Lanka to England surviving a Nepal scare and New Zealand holding firm against Afghanistan, the tournament momentum gathered pace.
Sri Lanka’s spin twins set the tone
Co-hosts Sri Lanka launched their World Cup campaign in style with a composed victory over Ireland, powered by a dominant spin display and a late batting surge.
Defending 164, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana dismantled Ireland’s chase, applying relentless pressure from the outset. Theekshana removed captain Paul Stirling, while Hasaranga struck twice early to tilt the contest firmly in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Ireland briefly threatened through a 49-run stand between Harry Tector (40) and Lorcan Tucker (21), but quick strikes from Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage broke the resistance. Hasaranga finished with superb figures of 3 for 25, as Sri Lanka sealed the win in the final over.
Earlier, Sri Lanka recovered from a shaky middle phase thanks to a decisive partnership between Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis. Kamindu’s explosive 44 off 19 balls, combined with Kusal’s anchoring 56 not out, lifted Sri Lanka to a competitive total after early setbacks.
Nepal push England to the brink in thriller
Nepal once again captured hearts with a fearless performance, pushing England to the limit before falling just four runs short in a pulsating encounter.
Nepal struck early with the wicket of Phil Salt, and later removed Jos Buttler, keeping England under pressure despite a strong powerplay. The recovery came through Jacob Bethell (55) and Harry Brook (53), who added a vital 71-run stand. A late cameo from Will Jacks (39* off 18) pushed England to 184.
In reply, Nepal showed remarkable composure. Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh set the tempo before skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee stitched together an 82-run partnership that kept Nepal firmly in the hunt.
The match swung back England’s way with late breakthroughs, but Nepal still needed just 10 off the final over. Sam Curran held his nerve brilliantly, conceding only six runs to secure a dramatic win and deny Nepal a famous upset.
New Zealand overcome Afghanistan after early scare
New Zealand began their campaign with a hard-fought win over Afghanistan in Chennai, overcoming early trouble to chase down a competitive target.
Afghanistan rode on a powerful 63 off 35 balls from Gulbadin Naib, who rebuilt the innings after Lockie Ferguson ripped through the top order. Naib’s 79-run stand with Sediqullah Atal (29) lifted Afghanistan to 182 for 6, with late contributions from Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi adding momentum.
The chase began dramatically as Mujeeb Ur Rahman removed Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra, leaving New Zealand wobbling at 14 for 2. Tim Seifert counter-attacked superbly, compiling a commanding 65 off 42 balls, while Glenn Phillips (42) provided support.
Despite Afghanistan tightening the screws late, Daryl Mitchell (25*) and captain Mitchell Santner (17*) calmly guided New Zealand home with 2.1 overs to spare, sealing a crucial opening victory.
Day 2 sets the tone for a gripping tournament
With Sri Lanka’s spinners firing, England surviving a Nepal scare, and New Zealand showing resilience under pressure, Day 2 underlined the competitive depth of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
As the tournament progresses, early wins have already shaped group momentum, while teams like Nepal and Afghanistan continue to prove they are more than capable of challenging the established powers on the world stage.
